Discovery-owned Science will mark the 45th anniversary of one of the greatest television franchises of all time, Star Trek, with the two-hour special Trek Nation premiering on Nov. 30 at 8 p.m.
The special follows Trek creator Gene Roddenberry's son, Rod, as he explores the deep impact of his father's singular vision for the future. Through interviews with fans, including George Lucas, J.J. Abrams, Seth MacFarlane, and many notable Star Trek alums, the show chronicles a son's journey to discover his father's work that helped define science fiction.
Trek Nation draws on hours of exclusive footage, including home movies from the Roddenberry family collection and the first-ever Star Trek convention. This film demonstrates that Roddenberry's work has not only inspired legions of fans across the globe, but generated a cultural movement, the channel said. Star Trek has influenced politics, space travel and social morality.
"Gene Roddenberry is the original thought-provocateur; the rebel-genius who was not afraid to push the boundaries of what science can accomplish," said Debbie Myers, general manager and executive vice president of Science, said in a release. "Star Trek used science fiction to hold a mirror to society, leveraging its storylines as a platform for social commentary touching on topics such as racism, sexism, the economy, war, peace and religion."
When Star Trekfirst premiered on NBC in 1966, it often was described as a Western set in space. However, the series provided a much deeper commentary that created a devoted and loyal fan base which continues to grow, even today. With a then-virtually-unknown cast, each week Roddenberry told tales of humans and aliens who lived side by side and served the Starfleet, the peacekeeping armada of the universe.
